Apparatus for the maintaining of uniformity in the production of mixture of two or more ingredients



y 1937. H. c. WOLF APPARATUS FOR THE MAINTAINING UNIFORMITY IN THE PRODUCTION OF MIXTURE OF TWO OR MORE INGREDIENTS Filed Feb. 28, 1936 FIG. 3.

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3* NV OR. 33 Ev ATTORNEY.

Patented May 11, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE UNIFORMITY -IN THE PRODUCTION MIXTURE OF TWO OR MORE INGREDI- ENTS Harry Comer Wolf, Indianapolis, Ind., assignor to E. C. Shireman, Martinsville, Ind.

Application February 28, 1936, Serial No. 66,244

3 Claims.

My invention relates to apparatus for carrying out the process which is described in my Patent No. 2,032,680, issued March 3, 1936.

In that application I describe. a method of controlling the uniformity of a mixture by its color characteristics, and then varying the percentages until the desired color is obtained.

In my present application my object is to produce a device which may be employed in such process, in order to make the color comparison.

In the preparation of a mixture containing two or more ingredients, I have found in practice that the color of the finished mixture varies in shade or density in direct ratio to the proportion of the various ingredients. In order that control of the proportion of various ingredients may be maintained to a predetermined scale of uniformity without depending upon experience of the observer, and in order to elimihate the element of human fallibility, I have in practice utilized a certain apparatus which I will describe herein so that any unskilled observer possessing only an ordinary sense of color values, can operate. mixing controls for the purpose of maintaining uniformity in mixtures.

The apparatus which I have used varies to some degree if used with a liquid, a vapor, or a solid, but the essential features are identical. The apparatus may be used for color standard comparison on a mobile batch mixture, but it is particularly desirable to use this apparatus on a moving stream of the finished mixture. or a bypass moving stream which is representative of the finished mixture. Where impracticable to apply the apparatus to the moving stream of finished mixture itself, I have found it de sirable to take timed, periodic samples from the moving stream and utilize the apparatus on such samples.

The apparatus which I have used in practice consists essentially of a hood or bottomless box, partly open at each end, so constructed as to exclude light, but to permit the passage of a continuous sampling stream Where continuous stream observation is being utilized; if batch or small sample testing is to be done, the ends as well as the sides of the hood are completely closed; the necessary feature of this hood or box design is to exclude all external light. Suspended vertically from the center of the hood or box is a bi-secting partition at right angles to the flow direction of the stream of the finished mixture which is to be observed, said partition extending approximately to the surface of the sample observation. A circular aperture is cut in the center of the top of the hood or box, such aperture being of the order of two inches in diameter and being divided into two semi-circles by the above described suspended partition. A circular glass is suitably placed in this circular aperture, the left semi-circle of which circular glass is frosted as in general practice for light diffusion, and the right hand semi-circle of the circular glass being plain, clear, transparent, flawless glass. To the left of the suspended partition that is placed in the center of the hood, is a boxed-in electric lamp of any suitable candle power or voltage. All light emanations from this electric bulb must be excluded from the sample below under observation. In a suitable clamp, a color slide of predetermined value, which is an index to the desired mixture, is clamped over the left semi-circle of the circular glass, which is that part of the circular glass which is frosted. In practice, I have prepared these color standards by covering thin, clear, flawless glass with pliable lacquers brought to the suitable, desired shade by the use of dyes. Midway between the center partition in the hood and the right hand end of the hood, is suspended another partition at an angle of about degrees from the horizontal, and this partition does not extend down to the surface of the material being sampled, but only serves as a shield to exclude from the clear glass half of the circular aperture, any direct light emanations from another electric bulb which is suspended inside from the top. of the hood between the angular partition and the right hand end of the hood. A suitable reflector may be attached to the inside of the top of the hood over this second electric bulb. The light from this second electric bulb is reflected upward by the mixture being observed, varying in color and color density in direct proportion to the variation of the several ingredients in the mixture. The result of this color reflection should be that the two halves of the circular glass in the center of the hood receiving light from two different sources of emanation, should match, and if the color and density of the reflected light in the right hand clear glass half of the aperture does not match and coincide with the color and density of the predetermined standard slide covering the left hand semi-circle of the glass covered aperture, then correction of the mixture may be performed either manually or automatically by the changing of the ratio of ingredients until such match is attained.

My means of accomplishing the foregoing objects may be more readily understood by having reference to the accompanying drawing which is hereunto annexed and is a part of this specification, in which:

Fig. 1 is an isometric view with a part of the box broken away to show the interior construction;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation; and

Fig. 4 is a top plan view.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the entire description.

As shown in the drawing, the view or comparing lens comprises two halves l and 2. The half I which is preferably frosted to produce a better light diffusion, is placed over a color slide which has been prepared showing the shade and density of color desired for the final mixture. The other half 2, should be formed of clear, flawless glass, as the operator must view the sample mixture 9 through it for comparison purposes. This sample may be moving on a conveyor belt It or it may be stationary as convenience dictates. A standard electric light bulb 3 is preferably used as a source of light. This bulb 3 is mounted in a light shielding box 8, which comprises a partition 6 which forms a light shield. The box 8 is provided with a bottom 1 and also a top; sides and one end. A second source of light consisting of another electric light bulb t is mounted in the box. The clear glass half 2 of the viewing lens is shielded from the light rays emitted by the bulb by a light shield 5. The light rays coming from the bulb t impinge upon the mixture sample 9 and are reflected upwardly through the clear glass 2. Suitable electrical contacts H of standard construction may be provided to which to connect the electric conductors (not shown), to convey current to the bulbs 3 and 4.

It will be clear from the foregoing that the operator can by looking through the viewing lens determine with great exactitude when the color of the sample mixture corresponds to the predetermined color and whether it is too light or too dark, so as to determine what must be added. In this color control method of maintaining uniformity of liquid mixtures such as acid-stage gasoline or other light hydrocarbon or acidstage lubricating oil fractions, I have passed the continuous stream through a glass tube for the purpose of observation under this method.

Having described my invention what I regard as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In an apparatus for the control .of uniformity of mixtures of two or more ingredients, a bottomless box adapted to be placed over a sample of the mixture, a central partition in said box dividing it into two chambers, a source of illumination in one of the chambers formed by said partition, a second source of illumination in the other chamber for illuminating the sample, said box having a circular aperture leading to said chambers in the center of its top above said partition so that each half of the opening is above a separate chamber, a transparent, flawless glass which covers one half of said aperture, a predetermined color slide of frosted glass which covers the other half, the first light source being for the half provided with the color slide, and so housed that none of the direct light rays emanating from it shall impinge on the sample under observation, but are redirected to the transparent glass whereby the color characteristics of the sample mixture may be compared with the color slide.

2. In an apparatus for the control of uniformity of mixtures of two or more ingredients, a casing adapted to be placed over a moving stream of a sample mixture, a partition in said casing dividing it into two chambers, a light source in one chamber formed by said partition, a light source in the other chamber for illuminating the sample, there being a circular opening in the top of said casing adjacent its center, a viewing lens which covers said opening, said lens consisting of one half formed by translucent frosted glass extending over the first chamber, a glass color slide of predetermined color on frosted glass, the other half being formed transparent flawless glass and extending over the second chamber, means to shield the secand light source from the clear glass portion of the viewing lens, said shield operating to redirect the light rays from the second light source onto the sample mixture whereby its color characteristics may be compared with the color of the light rays passing through the frosted glass and color slide.

3. In an apparatus for the control of uniformity of mixtures of two or more ingredients, a casing adapted to be placed over a moving stream .of sample mixture, a partition in said casing dividing it into two chambers, a. light source in one chamber formed by said partition, a light source in the other chamber for illuminating the sample, there being an opening in said casing adjacent its center, a viewing lens which covers said opening, said lens consisting of one half formed by translucent frosted glass of predetermined color which extends over one chamber, the other half which extends over the other chamber being formed of transparent flawless glass, means to shield the second light source from the transparent portion of the viewing lens and to direct the light rays onto the sample mixture whence they are reflected to said transparent glass, whereby the color characteristics of the mixture may be compared with the color of the light rays passing through the frosted glass and color slide.

HARRY COMER WOLF. 

